The effects of preharvest chemical applications on cracking and fruit quality in 0900 'Ziraat', 'Lambert' and 'Van' sweet cherry varieties

Abstract

In order to prevent fruit cracking in '0900 Ziraat', 'Lambert' and 'Van' cherry varieties, GA(3), NAA, GA(3)+NAA, GA(3)+Ca(OH)(2), NAA+Ca(OH)(2), GA(3)+NAA+Ca(OH)(2) treatments were done 30-35 days before the harvest in 1994-1996. The concentrations of the chemicals used in the experiments were 20 ppm for GA(3), 1 ppm for NAA and 0.7 % for Ca(OH)(2). All treatments decreased the cracking indexes in all varieties in 1994 and 1995. The GA3 and NAA treatments alone and their triple combination with Ca(OH)(2) were more effective to reduce the cracking index in '0900 Ziraat' cherries than the others. There were no significant differences in the cracking indexes of 'Lambert' and 'Van' cherries treated by various chemical combinations. The chemical treatments did not apparently affect the fruit firmness and TSS contents. The GA(3) application in 'Van' cherries reduced the calcium content in 1994. There were no consistent effects of the chemical treatments on the Mg, K, N, P content of the fruits.